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Monday, November 20, 2017

Well, one have to try to
understand the hardship and afford one had put to calm the tempest inside, to
sober the turmoil outside and to ebb the misunderstandings of life; to really
understand the meaning of life's beautiful.

Until then, to you; it will
appear nothing more than a boring jibbering jabbering four words of a baby.

I try not to hold myself from
saying, "Life is just beautiful!"

I guess, you should try it too,
It's wonderful.

Taken against the setting sun somewhere in Tashigang, my home-state in the far eastern Bhutan.Taken on 8th November, 2017

Monday, October 23, 2017

The story is never written in the stars nor on the forehead. You write your own story every moment, every second. Every breath you take in, every step you partake and every thought you ponder on, will either build or destroy your story. To be mindful of those little things, if you can; will help you in writing your story to end the way you dream of or at least close to it. Accordingly, you perceive your story. Later in time if you may like it, you can even believe or say, "The story is my life, or my life is the story!"

Either way; that is your TTL in the planet Earth, in the gist!! ******************************************************************************N.B----Time-to-live (TTL) is a value in an Internet Protocol (IP) packet
that tells a network router whether or not the packet has been in the network
too long and should be discarded

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Never mind the darkness; it still doesn't last beyond its phase. Ain't be right, yet adhere to your guts than rightness. Sometimes; its about
walking out of that old door and embracing tomorrows with a clear conscience.
For; locking oneself inside the dingy room shut with just an old rattling door, because
you are worried of what's right and wrong, and what if tomorrow is dark and
cold? Doesnt always do good to soul than strangling colourful tomorrows.

Oh, my oh, nobody has seen tomorrow and so no one knows of her.
She may be good/bad/right/wrong. One does need guts to face her as she comes,
as she will be, as you are.

Either way the dingy corner is no better.

Keep smiling and be positive, I have heard this inside-outlook of
tomorrow partly impacts the way she unfolds on you or your approach to her.... Accordingly you perceive her and she succors.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

A beautiful sunny day welcomed us all out of
our tents effortlessly, although we slept very late. Looked at one another’s
face, everyone was smiling and we know the reason. Did not spell it out for awhile
but couldnot hold it any further, “Doc…torr.. Doctor… Ashim Dechen is sick la.”
Everyone laughed out loud, imitating Kinzang. She was fine then. She had learnt
a lesson but the hard way.

After a quick breakfast, ashim Chimi sat on
a rock updating the route map on her diary, I was trying to help her too while
ashim told me time and again, “Toilet tent is very important, we didn’t have it
for a night and see everyone is hitting the bushes.” I raised my eye brows and
yes, I saw our folks going behind the bushes. I was guilty too.

After breakfast readying to head home.

We set about the final leg at 8 AM. Sun was
getting hotter, legs going stiffer and trail was no easy: steep. Slowly, but
steadily we climbed. Finished the steep section in about an hour from there it
was all an easy walk across the flank, looking back on the other side we could
see Tsabjo La and far towards west mount Jomolhari was playing with thick white
clouds on her head. Carried on walking for 2 hours till we reached the place
where Ap Chundu a powerful local deity of Haa valley came over to compromise
between the angry pursuing Tshonapatta and Pangbisa lama. There were three huge
laptas, we tired looking for a huge stone from which the lake returned but
could not see. We walked yet again for another hour to our lunch spot.

Exactly at 12 noon we got to a beautiful mini
plateau. Decided to lunch there sitting in a huge but not so accurate circle. Everyone
was bit tired and hungry too, started digging into our bangchungs without any
delay. We could see Haa valley far below. Acho Karma T. Dorji, began with his signature statement, "Since I am the eldest in the group..." and echoed words of appreciation and thanked everyone especially
our two team leaders for organizing a fabulous trek; and then all the new
trekkers who joined us on this wonderful and a memorable Nub Tshonaptta trek. All of us cheered.

After lunch at 12.40 PM we said good bye to
the mountains and thanked them deeply for allowing us to have a safe and an
unforgettable trek. Janatenkha monastery wasn’t far enough. Picked up all the plastics
bags and PET bottles we came across lying astray on the trail. Trekkers of the
past hadn’t done much good to the mountains.

The sharp descend didn’t hurt our knees as
expected because we were so engrossed in sweet nothings, so carried away to
that point where by we didn’t even realize two of our new girls Dechen and Dawa
were left way behind. Thank goodness
they called us or we might have had to climb back the entire stretch of thigh
aching ascend. Well, that was fine I
will tell you what the duo had thought all about when Kinzang and I met them
some 30 minutes way back upwards the lone bear vicinity. Like some pre primary
scholars happy to see their parents who have come to pick them after school, so
were Dechen and Dawa smiling at us with a long sigh of relieve. “We, checked our bag there was a few biscuits,
some sticks of match, half a bottle of water and….,” Dechen was running out of
words, “… and… I thought we are going to make it through the night and tomorrow
they will come looking for us by any means!” That was the first time she spoke
to me at that length throughout the trek and, “It was almost a S.O.S.” I
thought to myself jokingly. This short exercise not only made them aware to
keep up with other trekking mates and call out immediately if s/he sees no one
in front or to inform before going to the loo off the trail. But it also reassured
them that one is going to be left behind. That’s Trekkers 360’.

Younger brother Kinzang Namgyel taking his new sister found in the mountains by her hand.

At 3.30 PM there we were in Janatenkha
monastery, reunited! So kind of the lama there, refreshment was most
appropriate. Hung around the temple for an hour enjoying the panoramic view of
Haa valley down below, whilst trying to engrave fresh memories of wonderful Nob
Tshonapatta trek deep in our hearts, looking high up in the mountains. It gave
us a deep sense of satisfaction for having done it successfully - thanks our
two team leaders and to all the mates - and enormous appreciation of how
pristine everything was up there. I wish
if every trekkers respect the Mother Nature and her wonderful vicinity then it’s
likely she will grant us some perennial rivers and bountiful harvest for
decades.

Happy BOOTS!

4.30 PM on the clock and we bid good bye to porter
ponies and the lama there. Left Janatenkha on the hill, passed through Haa
valley and zoomed off to Thimphu. Gem Tshering was the pilot, and he lived up
to his reputation of driving swift no matter the road condition: narrow or wide,
he simply zoomed. I pretended to be brave. Mr. DrukAir got numerous calls which
made him a little irritated, “Agrrr, firstly they compromise on price and
secondly they want work to be done instantly!” Dolma sang some lovely songs while snacking on
packets of chips, did I eat too?

A shop in Bali, Haa

After 3 ½ hours of driving we were finally
at DE, Thimphu, underneath the walnut tree. Everybody was, “Yaayyy, we made it!!” Menda was there sharing our success too. As always dinner
was served on the house, so sweet of ashim Chimi. Had a yummy dinner at DE but
our trek didn’t end there, hot stone bath and tongba got onto our list ad hoc. Eight
of us were in for it, we drove to Babesa. “Oh, my,” soaking in the wooden bath
tub after a week-long trekking is the best feeling you can ever feel, tongba in
between simply complemented. Two hours of therapy had us smiling like a full
moon with red cheeks. We had to take some photos in the dark to freeze the
memory, glad we did that. All the while time kept running and so we were
calling it, “a very successful and a memorable Nob Tshonapatta trek” we
departed smiling with cheeks still red!

Us, red red cheeks with Tongba. :D :D

Nob Tshonapatta trek was one of the most
difficult treks, and yet the best trek so far!!

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Cutting right through the breast of Tshejay La 4600 meters, acho Penjor found new trail for sweepers
in the interest of time. It was wonderful though.

5
hrs 20 minutes hiked

The more we explored that much mesmerized we
were, weather for a moment was just too perfect that she granted us not only
the view but also allowed to amble on her. May be she knew we came from afar
just to see and pay respect to her or maybe it was the outcome of our positive
energy and yes we came with so much of positive energies since day one. We
thanked her for being so generous with us.

Yet, nothing lasts forever, when it is time
even the mighty lion goes back home and so we were readying to head back now. Although,
as per our itinerary we were supposed to halt two nights at Tshonapatta campsite,
do some cleaning campaigns and return the next day then head straight to Thimphu.
But, we couldn’t count on the instant changing winter weather. So, after
hanging around for about an hour we bid farewell to the revered Nob Tshonapatta
and began hitting the trail towards Tsejay La 4600 meters at 9 AM.

Quite a way to pose as a background for the tam leader acho Penjor

We were back on the track once again, the
mountain lovers. Slowly we climbed leaving the lake far below, a few steps up
and she vanished from our sight completely. Took in some deep breaths and kept
on walking up, up and up. Reached the first laptsa in 40 minutes, weather was
just fine, and everybody was lying around enjoying the view of mountain ranges far
and wide. We took some random pictures
then got back to walking. 10 minutes and we reached to another laptsa, but it
was fully cover in thick ice form one side, you can just imagine at what speed
wind blows at this height.

First laptsa

Second laptsa with iced-snow all blown to one side by the speeding wind.

Far below dark clouds engulfed Tshonapatta
already and it was coming up. Icy wind started howling biting our little bared
skins. The sky now roared above our heads and within no time it started
throwing ice pellets on our heads. I looked up, my folks were hiking in a long
chain against the white-mountain and when they climbed farther up they appeared
like an army of ants marching into the blackish clouds. Looked back, Dechen
Lhamu was having a real tough time, she was not only trying her best to keep
walking but also get everything captured in her phone. Kinzang Namgyal was
holding her by her left hand supporting and Ogyen held Kinzang’s hand form
other, the cute trio portrayed a good brother-sister-hood.

Sangay Khandu showing his thumb before he set forth to join the trekkers climbing up like ants .

Real challenge was the climb from there to
Tsejay La. Route all up in the blizzard, none stop hail stone hitting hard own
our heads, speeding icy cold wind biting our almost frozen cheeks, very low
visibility slowing down our already tired legs, and very low oxygen trying to
knock usdown with every step en route
the giant pass. However, we were trekkers and nothing was going to hold us down.
We were aware of all these, and with due respect to Mother Nature; it was just a
matter of whether she will test us or not. With a mindset like this nothing was
stopping us, we didn’t blame on anything also. We simply embraced the seasons
of Mother Nature whole heartedly.

Acho Penjor was almost frozen waiting for
the last group in the snow. He found a new route, quite risky cutting directly
from the breast of the great Tsejay La, but in the interest of time he had to
do it and we obliged. Felt kind of sorry for the new comers though, but we were
trekkers and we must be in position to adapt to any change in plans in
accordance to weather, place and time. So we did cut through descended for 15
minutes, we were already at Gongche La and 3 minutes walk down all our folks
were waiting for us: first tea break after walking for one and a half hours in
the harsh weather. Quite a relieve it was, finally to be reunited and getting
back to our old route. We agreed, Menda made a good decision of not coming this
time!

Tea time below Gongche La after an exhausting and challenging climb in the blizzard

Tied up our shoes laces, beat the last dust
off our bums and descended to Wangthangji in 30 minutes we were there, and then
climbed up for an hour to Tsabjo La. Weather got better within an instant. Sat
there for a while and I heard them say we are to climb up rather than going
down, so I climbed up about fifty meters. Wind started picking up, I saw my
folks going sideways and then descended, although not following yesterday’s
route. I thought they are going to climb anyway and I kept going up. I didn’t
hear them calling me. Climbed about hundred meters and then knew I was going the
wrong route. Ran down like a blue sheep over rocky trail, only then did I
realize we changed the route and going to Dung tsho (trumpet lake) and Nga tsho
(drum lake) where we will camp for the night.

Steep up, sharp drop, again up and down
through the coppice towards meadow we walked. Thirty meters past lied beautiful
Nga Tsho and far below was Dung Tsho. These lakes were two artifacts Pangbisa
lama threw to distract the pursuing Tshonapatta. Acho Karma T., Sangay Khandu
and I went around taking pictures while a few of fellow trekkers went circumambulating.
Ripples danced in the wind as we drank her water. Sun high in the sky played
hide and seek seldom throwing a few rays upon us. Behind the lakes huge mountains
stood a guard keeping an eye on them. Dusk was around the corner so we paid our
respects to the duo and walked a hundred meters below them to set our camps. It
was 3.20 PM.

Dungtsho, shot from the back of the lake

Sonam Wangchuk and Thinley Bidha coming down towards Dungtsho
as Kinley penjor enjoys the view climbing on a rock

As always Gem and I headed north to set
toilet tent. Earth was too hard for our little chisel that she belt on us time
and again, Kinley Penjor’s foldable shovel did his part to some extent. Dug
half a foot and couldn’t dig any deeper. We gave up, but did put the toilet
tent. Below us folks were done with sleeping and dining tents. Tea was ready,
so was the wind to exhibit her anger. No sooner did we have tea than the sky
started to rumble, dusk set in and our tents started fluttering like prayer
flags put on top of the hill. In the torment, our toilet tent was beaten black
and blue from all angles by the ragging wind. Other tents won’t stop from
fluttering unless we weighed them down with huge rocks. They were unhooked so
many times yet they fought well and stood their position.

Our third night camp site, 100 meters below Nga tsho

Wind blew extra ordinarily harsh that night.
We had to dine early fearing dining tent might either collapse on us or get
blown away. The night crawled in inviting hail stone from up above, the starting
slapping on our already sun brunt cheeks while heavy wind fanned dead woods
burning all over in our small fire place. So thoughtful of junior team leader
Kinley Penjor, he snuck out a bottle of whiskey – none of us drink, not in the
mountains - opened up, stuck a small patch of butter on the mouth of the newly
opened bottle making sure they met - which is the way it should be according to
our tradition – and together with other folks offered a Changphey (alcohol/wine
an offering) to the local deity. He said, “When the wind is harsh and sky
stones on you in the mountains, it means you have trespassed someone else’s
territory, and she or he is not happy with it.” I have heard it from elders
too, and to appease them we need to offer Changphey. Within minutes hail stone
stopped and the wind subsided. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in it or
not, but if you want to have a quiet and calm weather, then respecting serenity
and tranquility of the place is the utmost thing every enthusiast trekker or
hiker should bear in mind: all the time.

Our favourite cook preparing curry for our dinner at Nga tsho campe site. He is one of the finest trekking cooks everyone should look for, incase you plan on going for treks. He will make your tummy happy throughout the trek.

From that point night was all ours. Tomorrow
we don’t have to hike much that we know, so we stayed late by the fire. Spoke on
so many topics mostly they had no meanings but we laughed hard on them. A few
of them started gulping whiskey. It was winter and real cold that night, I
completely understand the urge to give some shots. But, I had a terrible experience,
of how I drank on the mountains and how it tortured me the whole night. Since then I have learnt: mountain and
alcohol don’t go well. I shared my experience, junior team leader agreed. Dechen
and Dawa were a little too excited of the first yet a wonderful trek, so they
gulped to it. I had a little doubt. Took another shot. I was starting to get
worried. Took third shot, and I thought somebody better be alert the whole
night through. “Yaya, good night!” Trekkers went to crash.

Kinzang Namgyal the youngest trekker in Nub
Tshonapatta Trek he shared tent with his two cousin brothers in the first
night, but from the second night on senior acho Penjor’s recommendation Dechen
and Dawa invited him to crash in their tent. The concept was simple: more folks
in the tent that much heat it will generate. Since then he put up with them.

“Doctor, doctor, doctorrrrr?” A school boy
reported to the principal. “Acho S.T, acho S.T?” Sounded familiar but we are in
no school. “Yes, yes,” reply came in from another tent. I knew it was still in
my dream. “Doctorrr.. Doctorr… ashim Dechen is sick la!” That woke me up completely. “What happened to
her?” “Doctorrr, she has headache la. She has fever sir, vomiting also la.”
“Did she drink?” “Yes, la, sir.” Everybody was up listening the whole time and
judging the severity of it. Glad we had a doctor in the team, he understood the
situation and we could rest assured, of course concerned we were. He gave a few
medicines and she could go back to sleep shortly. I know what went through
Dechen’s mind.

To know more about mountain sickness and its risks or treatment
kindly read /check the following link:

Thursday, August 3, 2017

It is believed at the bottom of this giant
and calm Nob Tshonapatta lied so many ter (treasures) enough to feed the
entire country for years and so many sacred religious articles, mostly to do
with Buddhism. But, those ter or articles cannot be seen or retrieved or
revealed by anyone except for those prophesied beings known as Tertons, the treasure
retriever or revealer. Only he or she (as of now in the history there never was
a female prophesied tertons. I hope a time will come whereby there will be a
female treasure revealer and she will reveal so many sacred ters. And I look
forward to that day) can collect and use it for the promotion of Buddhism and
peace in the entire world. It of course will bless us too.

One of those prophesied tertons was Terton
Sherab Mebar a young and handsome Tibetan lama, who lived some 200 years before
Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal – the unifier of Bhutan. He came to Bhutan from Kham via
Jomolhari to Haa on the process revealing some ter and headed to Bumthang via
Wangduephodrang. There he was forced to reveal some ter from Mebar Tsho, he
obliged but took back since it wasn’t his time. Rest is the story of Mebar Tsho
you read in our Bhutan history in school. He even tired to reveal some in
Pasakha, Chukha, but he could not complete his discovery; again it was not his ripen
time. Then he travelled to Pangbisa in Paro, as per his prophecy and this is
where the actual story of revered Nob Tshonapatta all started from.

The story of revered Nob Tshonapatta goes
like this: in Pangbisa the locals heard a lot about this young and handsome
lama who came from Tibet and that he is prophesied to go to Nob Tshonapatta seven
times and reveal numerous religious articles plus wealth for the entire
country. They started pressuring him to go and bring them. They were so
impatient, firstly to check if he really was the said terton and secondly to
have all the wealth revealed from the lake. Locals forced him again and again but he said
it was not the right time. They thought he was a liar.

After much pushing he agreed, took 32 strong
men comprised of carpenters and workers from the village, then headed to Nob
Tshonapatta to retrieve a few treasures together with a golden pillar for Paro
Dzong. He instructed his men to cut the golden pillar from 1 foot in length as
it appears at the bottom of the lake, when he will divinely scoop the entire
lake water into his mouth. As a token for helping him they can keep the fragments
of gold falling off on the impact of their axes.

Having instructed Terton Sherab Mebar
started to divinely scoop whole water in the lake into his mouth, and then
workers went ahead hitting with their axes. But they grew greedy in between and
started chopping out huge gold fragments from the golden pillar. Terton
gestured not to chop into chunks, but they would not heed. So, finally he had
to let go of lake water from his mouth to shout at them but the lake water
drowned all 32 of them to death. The deity of Nob Tshonapatta became so furious
for trying to take the ter from lake before his time, and started to chase him vigorously.
The lake chased him on and on, along the way to distract the deity terton threw
a handful of ter retrieved from the lake here and there. Places where he threw
dung (trumpet) ter, Nga (drum) ter, drum stick and rim (cymbal) ter later
formed into lakes.

Dung tsho (Trumpet lake)

Nga tsho (Drum lake)

The lake chased him till Laptsa of Tshelumtsho
(this laptsa is also know by the name Tego La, I believe) where ap Chungdue, local deity and protector
of Haa appeared in real to negotiate between terton and pursuing lake. It is said
from this point Nob Tshonapatta retreated with a condition that the terton and
his followers from Pangbisa will not set a foot in Haa Shogona. From that day
on inhabitants of Pangbisa never kept any relation with the people of Shogona.

Laptsa Tshelumtsho / Tego La

There is a story where a guy from Shogona
got married to a girl in Pangbisa. They had a child, paid not much heed to the
story of the peaceful agreement and set forth to husband’s village. While
crossing the bridge over a river, the child's wrapper untied by itself letting child
fall straight into the river and drowned instantly. It is believed the deity of
Nob tshonapatta did it.

The only ter terton Sherab Mebar could retrieve
from Nob Tshonapatta was a single cymbal, which is now one of the sacred relics in
Paro Dzong and it is displayed on the first day of Paro Tshechu annually.

Terton Sherb Mebar also known as Pangbi
lama, since he resided there, died at a very early age. It is again believed he
died in early 30s; probably because he didn’t adhere to his prophesy much. It
is said before going to Nob Tshonapatta to reveal and retrieve ter, he was to attain
an age of 25 years and that too ap Chungdu the protector of Haa was to
accompany him to Nob Tshonapatta.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

The revered Nob Tshonapatta as seen from our campsite, a very small ordinary lake.

“Che. Che, wake up, wake up. Sun is going to
be out soon.” Acho Karma T., Penjor and S.T were readying camera gears to take some sun
rise shots. “Laa, aachoo, yes acho, I am coming la,” got up promptly, grabbed
hold of my camera and unzipped the icy hard tent flaps. Gush of cold wind
brushed my sleepy cheeks, waking me up completely out of my daze, as I put on
my trekking boots. Outside everything was covered in white blanket of snow and
they looked pretty. It was 6 AM in the morning.

Woke early setting up the camera for the king of the sky to rise, and he wont bless us in the morning!

With our gears in standby facing west, we
waited for the sun to rise. Clock ticked by and there was no sign of the sun,
far below we saw a small frozen lake. Waited again but it was 7 AM already, sun
shone bright lighting everything up. Quite unhappy for not being able to
capture the reflection of the early sun rays touching those western peaks over
Nathula pass on the Indian Bhutan border, a few of our folks saw trucks moving
too through binoculars, we took pictures of ourselves. But, what made us smile was
the beauty of the place when it glowed in sun light.

Folks came out of their tents with a huge,
“Wow!” followed by, “so beautiful, worth all the hardship!” Ran here and there, threw snow balls at one
another and then took so many pictures. Ashim chimi wrote in the snow “MISS YOU
MENDA” we still thought she should have come. It was sunny and a warm morning,
we had breakfast and packed our lunches as our guides un-pitched and loaded the
ponies. We are walking down about 10 minutes to see the famed NobTshonapatta. We saw it was just a small lake from our camp
site.

A lovely message for a lovely daughter from a lovely mother... Just wonderful!!!

Ten minutes walk down in the snow and there
it was the revered Tshonapatta, a huge lake completely frozen with thick ice,
and an inch of snow on top making wholly white and more glamorous. Almost the
size of one and a half football grounds in length, hidden at the base of Tsejay
La 4600 meters, exposing only a little more than the quarter of its original
size. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I looked around and they radiated the sense
of accomplishment. Trekkers ran down smiling like happy little babies going to
mama.

Team leaders offering prayers on the frozen Nob Tshonapatta

Acho Penjor checked around before folks could walk on her. It was safe!

Then trekkers hopped on.

Circumnavigating and going for rounds.

After a few minutes on the frozen Nob Tshonapatta two ashims retreated. Sat on a
rock listening to music and sang along.

Our yoga master, Dolma trying out some yoga.

Soon to be married, the wonderful couple stood firm on their decision. I guess the revered Nob Tshonapatta
saw it too, and blessed them because the weather stood by our side throughout morning.Which could be read as a good luck sign.I wish Sonam and Thinley all the happiness and love in the universe.

I did offer my share of simple prayer too.

Team leaders checked the strength of the ice
on the lake so we can walk in the middle to offer prayers and also to say,
“Thank you,” for leading us here all safe and sound. In a minute all of us were
on the lake praying. Ashim Yangchen and Lhamu led by acho S.T. went around
circumambulating the revered lake. Acho Karma T and I were clicking. Wangchuk
carried his fiancé Thinley and posed for the camera. Dolma and Gem were trying
out some yoga postures. Sangay and Dechen Lhamu were doing some ramp walks.
Ogyen and Kinzang wrote messages on the lake in the snow. Dawa Lhamo was far
off at the mouth of the lake. Ashim Chimi and Ching ching walked back and sat
on a rock listening to their favorite songs. Did the two ashims go sentimental?........
Well, all of us were. We don’t know if we can ever come back to this revered
tsho and even if we ever did would it be as beautiful as it was today? There is
no guarantee, yet all we can do is hope. Yes, we should always hope!

Life's just beautiful!!

Life is an art, you either just live, write, sing, paint, dance, or etc. as long as you love doing it, as long as it doesn't hurt others sentiment and your own peace of mind, then keep doing it. One day you will look back and say, "This is my story. My life."

I am a Bhutanese Blogger, not to change the world but, to change myself.